Self-propelling attachment for golf-bag carts



Nov. 12, 1957 MS 2,812,824

SELF-PROPELLING ATTACHMENT FOR GOLF-BAG CARTS Filed July 22, 1955 INVENTOR Grace xifldams 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV. 12, 1957 ADAMS 2,812,824

SELF-PROPELLING ATTACHMENT FOR GOLF-BAG CARTS Fil ed July 22, 1955 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent SELF-PROPELLING ATTACHMENT FOR- GOLF-BAG CARTS This invention relates to golf playing equipment, and particularly to an attachment for a two-wheel golf bag cart of the type now widely used to carry the bag of clubs of the player, and which is arranged to be manually pulled along by the player as he or she traverses the golf course. Pulling such a cart over a golf course oftimes has a very wearisome effect on some players before a game is completed.

It is, therefore, the major object of my invention to provide a self-propelling unit adapted to be connected to and support a golf-bag cart, and by means of which unit the cart may be maneuvered over the golf course simply by a steering effort on the part of the player, and no pulling of the cart by the player is necessary.

Another important object of the invention is to arrange the self-propelling unit as an attachment which may be applied to or detached from the cart in a matter of seconds. Thus, the cart may be used with or without the unit, as may be desired, and the wheels of the cart when the latter is detached-may then be folded without interference, and for easy storage or transportation of said cart.

A further object of the invention is to construct the self-propelling unit in such a manner that no changes of any kind need be made to the golf cart, nor are any fastening or other elements permanently connected thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfpropelling unit and attaching means, arranged so that when the unit is connected to the cart, the bag on the latter is held clear of the ground at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfpropelling attachment for golf-bag carts which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durableself-propelling attachment for golf-bag carts, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specifiaction and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the self-propelling unit, as attached to a golf cart.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the unit, detached.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation on line 4- 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the attaching clamp used to connect the unit and the golf cart adjacent the upper end of the latter.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the golf cart shown, and to which the self-propelling unit is adapted to be attached, comprises essentially a rigid upstanding post 1 having a forwardly projecting bag supporting bracket 2 at its lower end, and a foldable handle 3 at the back. The post 1 is supported by a pair of transversely spaced wheels 4 mounted on stub spindles 5 projecting from leg units 1a depending from the post at a rearward angle; the wheels being disposed so that when the post 1 is set at a predetermined rearward slope to its upper end, the bracket 2 will be clear of the ground.

The self-propelling unit, which is the subject of this invention and which is adapted for connection to a cart as above described, comprises a base platform 6 substantially the width of the space between wheels 4 and having an upstanding rearwardly facing angle member 7 secured thereto across its forward end. Such angle member 7 not only serves as a stiffener for the platform 6 but also as the locator for the forward edge of a storage battery 8 seated on said platform; similar locators 9 and 10 for the back and sides, respectively, of the battery being also secured on the platform.

A swivel platform 11 extends rearwardly from the platform 6 and includes a fifth wheel portion 12 at the front turnable in a circular recess 13 in said platform 6 and curved concentric with an upstanding post 14 which is bent rearwardly at certain level above the platform 11 to form a steering handle 15; the latter projecting rearwardly behind the platform 11 some distaance as shown.

The post 14 is held rigid with platform 11 by means of a connecting collarand flange member 16, while the lower end portion 17 of the post projects below flange member 16 and turns in a relatively heavy bar 18 which underlies fifth wheel portion 12.and is rigidly secured to platform 6 on the underside.

The fifth wheel portion 12 and bar 18 are held from vertical separation by a nut 19 on the lower end of post portion 17.

The platform 11 is slotted from the back, as at 20, to receive a single traction wheel 21 whose tread surface is preferably transversely ribbed to give the maximum traction. This wheel is disposed so that when parallel to the cart wheels 4, it lies in a longitudinal plane extending centrally between said wheels 4, as is the center of the fifth wheel portion 12 and post 14.

The traction wheel 21 is supported upon platform 11 by bearings 22, one of which includes a reduction gear unit 23 of conventional form driven from an electric motor 24 mounted on said platform to one side of the wheel.

At its forward end, platform 6 is provided with rigid upstanding and downwardly opening hooks 25 forming parallel-sided openings 26 adapted to slip over spindles 5 of the cart; the hooks being spaced apart so that they engage the spindles 5 adjacent the wheels 4, and between the latter and theupstanding wheel-mounting leg units 1a.

In order to rigidly connect the cart at its upper end to platform 6 and hold the cart against vertical swivel movement relative thereto, a post 27 upstands from platform 6 a short distance ahead of post 14 and to a height substantially that of cart post 1. Post 27 is braced from post 14 intermediate its ends by a longitudinal unit 28 engaging and extending between said posts, and which does not interfere with rotation of post 14. A clamping unit 29 releasably connects the upper end of the post 1 and 27, and comprises a pair of laterally separate jaws 30 coupled by a hand-actuated clamping screw 31. The jaws are formed with a straight bore 32 to slide onto and clampingly engage post 27, and with an angular downwardly sloping bore 33 to slide onto and clampingly engage the upper end of post 1. The unit 29, when thus engaged with both posts, maintains said post 1 against forward tilting movement and holds bracket 2 clear of the ground.

In order to attach the described self-propelling unit to the cart, it is only necessary to firs-t fold the handle 3, and then engage the hooks 25 over the spindles 5 from above. The post 1 is then tilted back toward the post ae aaag 27, with it is transversely alined, so that the bores of the clamping unit 29 may simultaneously slip onto the respective posts. The clamping screw 31 is then tighttwill?- 2f I 1 ed by, th elharidlel S, battery. l8 are connected to circuit vi hi ch'z'infclude'sjv wires 35 ,t. and

, or alljy open ha'r idswitclf 36 of the type, is interposed The switch 36 is preferably mo nted,in the, handle;"15 .adjacent itslqut'er end ,where said handle is grasped by a, the person manipulatin g,v the 't andl attachedc t.- the wiring to and from the Tohconserve' w ig hfland, r'ediice manufacturing expense notmechanical-speedeeha e, s'r'riission is provided, on the iinit, and hen'cea ha ntr oll d rheostatfilis interposed ,in the, circuit, Sush rh'eos'tat is mounted, on" the unitat aeonve nient.point, Such; as; on the 'pl'atformfi, as

er, the speed: of -the motor. 2 4,.rnay

he and cart attafehed thereto e at"; Pe e of ear ee i ie ler.

be cohtr olled s rgfth. w l rareLat a peg player.

Thefbattery, 8,;nrustrobyiously be recharged at intervals, and nto facilitatef suchlrecharging, a socket. 38 for conne ctionto extens ncord, is mounted, in connection 'thej'battery, on topjoffthe same on a supporting strap, 39, depending,andrdetachably connected to the opposed battery; locating 'rnembers, 'Land 9 Wires 40; from socket 38 are connected to terminal clamps 34.

While sthe. self-propelling above described is designed; for. attachment to, aspeeific one of the variousfoldable golf-bag carts which are at present on: the market, it will beobviousthat said unit-may bereadily l rted yr a e ight eh nge in me ons t r. tteeh. ea t l meet t ete l oth r xi n t e of carts.

he reeeia les r rt ea x b readily se ha ere e's b en pmdueerl sueh e d vi e a sub t ntially ful fills the objects of the invention, as set forthher ia- W il th s s s flestie ets er h n e a th Pres sa R r d ee eetie e heevise still n} a ice u h d viet ensram-sa h-d tail ma e e o s a do not form a departure from the spirit of the invenie sd nes b th ppende lsims- H rbi i e slee h d h nven ion e f ew r s l im s d esefs easl u n wh h Let ersla entii, de ed:

1. A. s e propelled attachment for a golf-bageart, said a eemeir'i's gee esi susne ia street re iidapai f.

The handle, ls land spaced wheels supporting the structure, and said attach meiiF'coiiipiising front aha rear'platforms, means cannecting the platforms for relative swivel movement in a horizontal plane while maintaining them rigid in a vertical plane, instrumentalities on the front platform arranged for detachable engagement with the cart to maintain the cart and said platform in rigid relationship, a single traction wheel mounted on the rear platform, a self-contained power plant mountedon the attachment and driving" said traction wheel, anda'handle member rigidly connected to and projecting" rearwardly. from the rear platform to steer the attachment, said handle member including a vertical portion depending to-and rigid witlfthe' re'ar platform; the platformeonnecting means including an extension of said portion below the rear platform, and a bar rigid with the front platform projecting under the front portion of the rear platform and through which said e rtension turnably; projects. to form the axisfof rotation b tweeh1thei 1atfms s 2; A self-propelled;attachment, adapted for usewith and; detaehable, connection to algolf-bag cart having an upstanding postatt the back and a j pairof transversely spacedsupporting wheels about which the post may swiyelj vertically; the attaehrnent; comprising a platform unit,- means on the platform unit at its forward end for de-- tachableconnection. to the cartadjacent and between the wheelsya s teerable traction wheel 0n:and supportingthe p1atf0rm,,unitfrom-the ground, aself-contained power plant on theunit totdrivethetraction wheel, and means on theattaehnrent'fondetaohable connection. to the cart merit from a predetermined" rearward 1y angled position;

sai sl, t named means comprising a rigid upstanding:

post on th platforml nnit alined in a'longitudinal plane he fcart hposti, and a detachable connecting and elamping member having; post engaging bores to fitover theupper end. of both posts-when. the cart posti s disposed said predetermined rearwardly angled. position.

w th

Germany May 6 1927' post to maintain the latter against forward swivel move-,- 

